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* From the Rauner campaign…

March Madigan-ness

With March Madness upon us, the Rauner campaign made its own bracket featuring Mike Madigan’s “top” headlines of the year. Which one will win the title of “Best Madigan Headline of 2017-2018?”

Click here for the bracket and the rest of the release.

* Rauner campaign…

In a weekend editorial, The Wall Street Journal made clear how high the stakes are in 2018. If JB Pritzker and Mike Madigan take total control of Illinois, they’ll raise taxes yet again on Illinois families, and that means more people leaving the state and fewer jobs. It’s why Governor Bruce Rauner is fighting to win re-election so he can block Madigan’s plan to take more money out of the pockets of hardworking taxpayers, and provide tax and regulatory relief to unlock the potential of the Illinois economy.

The editorial includes this tidbit…

One difficulty for Democrats is that they need a supermajority of both legislative chambers to place an amendment [for a graduated tax] on the ballot. While they have the votes in the Senate, four Republicans are needed in the House. Mr. Madigan twisted some GOP arms last summer to override Mr. Rauner’s veto, and the patronage king may now try to buy off Republicans who aren’t running for re-election.

I’m not saying they’re wrong about the future, but that’s some interesting revisionism about what happened last July.

* As we all know by now, Chris Kennedy has called on House Speaker Michael Madigan to step down as state party chairman. He’s been silent on Madigan’s role as speaker, however. Kennedy explained it this way the other day…

* If you can’t watch videos at work, here’s what Kennedy said…

In the speaker role, it’s complicated because he’s done a good job of standing up to Gov. Rauner.

More Kennedy nuance. If he wins the primary, Rauner will whack him with this for months on end. I can just see it now: “Kennedy said his puppet-master Madigan has done a good job!!!”

* Related…

* Attack ads draw rebukes in 17th: Mike Madigan’s favored candidate in the 17th District Illinois House race, Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, has launched attacks on one of her opponents that are giving leaders of the New Trier Township Democratic Organization second thoughts about having endorsed Gong-Gershowitz. The target of the attacks is Candance Chow, who currently serves on the Evanston/Skokie School District 65 board. One of the attack fliers claims Chow is giving Republicans Donald Trump and Bruce Rauner “plenty to celebrate.” … The president of the NTDO, Judy Mandel, in a newsletter to members Wednesday, said she’s received a string of complaints about the over-the-top, negative and especially nasty mailing pieces from Gong-Gershowitz, a Glenview resident.

* Tribune Editorial: Michael Madigan, the #MeToo mansplainer: If Madigan’s rope-a-dope works, it says more about his ability to intimidate challengers than about the importance of this issue in his realm. Hollywood, the news media and Silicon Valley continue to confront these deep-rooted issues. The same should be true for government and politics.

* Madigan’s Panel Meets With Former Staffer Who Alleged Sexual Harassment: Alaina Hampton, a former staffer for Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, met Sunday with the three-woman panel appointed by Madigan to lead a statewide discussion on sexual harassment. … Of the meeting Sunday, Hampton told NBC 5 that she “had a frank and productive conversation” with the panel. “They listened to my story and took in my recommendations on how to ensure justice for victims and how to begin to change the pervasive culture of sexism in Illinois politics,” Hampton said.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 12:29 pm

Comments

Q: Which one of these candidates is Madigan’s preferred Candidate again?

A: All of them. #Degroot’d

Comment by Dee Lay Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 12:54 pm
from the comments of the Evanston Now article

“Disgusted by the Campaign
Submitted by Mark Sloane on March 9, 2018 - 10:06am

Thought we’d all grown past this kind of petty, childish campaign tactics. #Time to Gong Jen.”

I thought Evanston was supposed to be a community of tolerance? What’s up with this racist comment.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 1:12 pm
RICH this Rep primary is real simple…you vote Rauner because of the MAP in 2020 and to veto any progressive taxes from the Dems should they have the votes….which the should not. HI $$$$ might be able to beat JB if people believe we need a divided gov.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 1:14 pm
–Mr. Madigan twisted some GOP arms last summer to override Mr. Rauner’s veto, and the patronage king may now try to buy off Republicans who aren’t running for re-election.–

That is some classic out-of-town-stupid. Nobody does it like the WSJ edit board.

How, exactly, could Madigan “twist arms” with “patronage” to turn GOP legislators against Rauner, the GOP governor who has all the jobs, grants, leases and contracts, plus is the state GOP bank to boot?

I’d love to hear the explanation.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 1:33 pm
“Don’t write what I say, write what I mean!”

-Chris Kennedy, probably

Comment by LakeviewJ Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 1:35 pm
Kennedy was probly forced to say it. I know Kennedy wouldn’t say this naturally. He is anti establishment

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 1:50 pm
Live in the !7th and have to agree with NT Dems that JGG attacks have been over the top and out of line.

Will still vote for JGG because she is very well qualified but won’t be placing lawn sign or doing any outreach to friends and family for her after seeing attack pieces in my mail

very disappointing

Comment by Etown Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 1:52 pm
Great idea for the bracket. Let’s do one for Rauner, but we’ll need a lot more than 8 spots.

Comment by Steve Rogers Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 2:35 pm
Agree, Steve Rogers. I prefer “Raunerbot Bingo” which is a easy 25 spot fill as opposed to this bracket that ain’t a bracket.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 3:03 pm
I hope JB Pritzker becomes the next governor of IL. Common politics knows that taxes are going to be raised but what social class will be affected. If taxes goes up, it will be the weathliest and not the working and middle class. JB Pritzker is probably aimimg for progressive taxes which Rauner is against because it will affect his wealthy cronies and corporations. Rauner does not care or support the well being for the working families in IL. Rauner is only obsessed with Madigan and the unions. He won’t sign the gun law that the Mayor Rahm is requesting because he thinks it affect his campaign with the conservatives. Man up Governor, sign the bill. A dedicated police officer loss his life stopping a suspect by the Thompson Center. Put politics on the side or you are going to look bad and probably loss the election. In the subject of sexual harassment, Rauner needs to worry about his own Governor’s Office since the Executive Office of Inspector General is investigating sexual harassment claim.

Comment by Southwest Resident Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 4:41 pm
Jennifer Gong Gershowitz is a fierce human rights attorney and community advocate, granddaughter of Chinese immigrants and a Jewish woman. And progressive leaders throughout the district have endorsed Jennifer, including Laura Fine, Brad Schneider, Theresa Mah, Josina Morita, Michael Cabonargi, Jeff Schoenberg and many, many others.

As for disappointing and disreputable mail, alot has been written about Chow’s mail:

https://preaprez.wordpress.com/2018/03/08/in-the-17th-state-rep-race-if-youre-going-to-claim-teacher-support-shouldnt-you-actually-have-it/

Comment by Scott Cross for President Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 1:03 am